When it comes to new technologies and innovations, some hospitals have already been able to successfully tick some of the boxes of their "Master plan Smart Hospital ". Meanwhile, the digitization aspect in terms of hospital connectivity as envisioned by the UNITY Company, seems to lag behind.
UNITY offers consulting services and guides healthcare facilities on their way to becoming a Smart Hospital. The company presents a case scenario that might take place in a connected hospital: There has been an accident. The emergency medicine physician collects the injured person's data and digitally transmits it to the hospital, which is subsequently able to prepare for treatment – long before the patient arrives at the facility. This ensures that the patient not only receives a speedy but also personalized treatment upon his/her arrival at the hospital. The medical specialist, who is unable to be right on-site is also connected using telemedicine solutions. The real-time location system and status assessment of medical devices ensure that physician and patient are promptly furnished with the necessary equipment. If needed, customized implants and other products can be produced thanks to the in-house 3D printer. The physician also digitally records the medication administration to ensure that medicine can be dispensed and picked up as quickly as possible via electronic prescription (e-Prescribing). All patient data is stored digitally in a cloud and can be immediately accessed at the next doctor's visit or hospital stay.
The first step and the foundation of a Smart Hospital - and this doesn’t just apply to this concept – is the electronic patient record. If all patient data is available in a digital format, it can be accessed by all departments and hospital stakeholders in no time at all. In an emergency, the physician is able to check for any pre-existing conditions or allergies the patient might have. Needless to say, this speeds up all subsequent treatment steps.
The electronic health record is planned as a database though it has not been implemented yet because there is still no legal framework. After all, data privacy concerns are inevitable wherever data is stored. Even though the corresponding regulations and restrictions are meant to ensure patient safety and personal data security, they slow down the pace of digital transformation and the overall development of the Smart Hospital at the same time. What’s more, there is often a lack of infrastructure to support connectivity.